Surface-water quality and flow Modeling Interest Group
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Fluorometric procedures for dye tracing
This manual describes fluorometric procedures used by the U.S. Geological
Survey in dye tracer studies to measure time of travel, dispersion,
reaeration, and dilution-type discharge. The outstanding characteristics
of dye tracing are (1) its low detection and measurement limits and (2)
its simplicity and accuracy. The manual contains necessary background
information about fluorescence, dyes,and fluorometers and a description of
fluorometric operation and calibration procedures as a general guide for
laboratory and field use. A brief section on aerial photography is also
included because of its possible use to supplement ground-level
fluorometry.
The measurement of water discharges at sites where measurement by
conventional means is difficult or impossible as a result of excessive
turbulence, debris, changing flow conditions, inaccessibility, or safety
may often be accomplished using tracer dilution and velocity measurement
techniques. Two dilution type techniques are feasible: (1) the
slug-injection total-recovery method, which requires a simple injection of
tracer but extensive sampling, and (2) the constant-injection
equilibrium-plateau method, which requires a constant rate injection but
less extensive sampling. Both methods can yield reliable results if proper
techniques are used in their performance.
The U.S. Geological Survey is active in measuring time of travel in streams
using dye tracers. This manual describes methods of measuring time of
travel of water and waterborne solutes by dye tracing. The fluorescent
dyes, measuring equipment used, and field and laboratory procedures are
also described. Methods of analysis and presentation to illustrate time of
travel of streams are provided.
The theory, field and computational procedures in measuring stream
reaeration coefficients in-situ using dye and gas tracer injections to
measure desorption, and thereby oxygen absorption is described in detail
in this report.
Soluble tracers can be used to simulate the transport and dispersion of
soluble wastes that may be introduced into surface waters. Measured
tracer-response curves produced from the injection of a known quantity of
soluble tracer can be used in conjunction with the superposition principle
to simulate potential waste buildup in streams, lakes, and estuaries. Such
information is particularly valuable to environmental and water-resource
planners in determining the effects of proposed waste discharges.
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